Page 44 (1/2)

"Indeed? What an interesting coincidence There are er It is, after all, across the water frooods"

"Traitors, you say?" she asked

"Traders – those who buy and sell"

"Ah, I see So what you are saying, Aldermaston, is if I visit every fletcher in this Hundred, I will find others who canher shrewdly "I presu that question What are you suggesting, Madam?"

Her voice fell lower "I believe you knoho h you cannot leave the Abbey grounds, you know Very little, if anything, passes your notice As an Aldermaston, you are forbidden to lie But as a wisethe truth That is what I a hunter You sent hiest you did so to protect him"

The Aldermaston’s face was hard as stone, but Lia could see the flaer in his eyes Just as softly, he replied, "The cloister is an inappropriate place to hold such an important conversation We will retire to my study to discuss this further You are quite mistaken"

Lia heard bootsteps on the ay outside and then the porter’s key jiggled in the lock As she turned, she stood face-to-face with the Earl of Dieyre He looked at each of their faces and then a smirk twisted on his mouth, as if he savored contention "Please tell ed in a moat and do not fancy the treachery of is replied tautly

"Well I for one think he is wise as well as aged Tell me, Aldermaston I understand you have a copy of Ovidius here – perhaps even the original toinal, of course" The Aldermaston looked choked with fury

"I have not read it since my days as a learner With your perracefully

"Shall we continue our conversation?" the Queen Dowager asked, her eyes glea at the Alder, but she had no idea what It was happening so quickly There was a reason Dieyre wanted to linger behind in the cloister, and he did not want the Alderlance at Ellowyn’s table was all it took

A thought brushed against her uard Ellowyn